Varnish-can



(No Model.)-

J. L. HUMPHREY.

' VARNISH GAN.

No. 563,178. Patented June 30,1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. HUMPHREY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE F, W. DEVOE & C. T. RAYNOLDS COMPANY, OF NEV JERSEY.

VARNlSH-CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,178, dated June 30, 1896.

Application filed January 31, 1896. $erial No. 577,615. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. HUMPHREY, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Varnish, &c., Cans, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in varnish-cans and other similar receptacles.

Heretofore varnish, shoe-polish, and other similar articles of commerce have been presented to the public in suitable receptacles or packages, and a brush or sponge necessary during the use of the varnish or blacking has been inclosed within the same wrapper as that inclosing the receptacle or vessel, and, also, in order to obviate the necessity for a wrapper the brush, sponge, or like utensil has been attached to the vessel, sometimes with a cord, and sometimes with a rubber band, and sometimes the vessel and the utensil have been furnished separately to the dealers, who at the time of sale handed to the purchaser the vessel containing the varnish, blacking, or like article, and also a separate detached brush, sponge, or the like. All of these previous practices are objectionable for various reasons, among them the following: The paper wrapper inclosing the utensil and receptacle was an additional expense, and was also liable to become torn and displaced. Then separation of the two articles took place. Also rubber bands, especially the low-grade material necessarily used for such purposes, soon become oxidized or rotten by atmospheric action. Thereupon they easilybecome broken, and, where string is used, it is difficult to tie the utensil and vessel together so as to maintain their relative positions.

By my invention I obviate all of the foregoing objections, and also add to the commercial attractiveness of the merchandise, by presenting the goods to customers in such manner that the convenience and completeness of the outfit is at once obvious without any explanation, but upon mere inspection of the goods upon the shelves of the dealers, and the material I employ for connecting the brush or sponge to the vessel is such that it is not acted upon atmospherically, or in any other way, and is not liable to derangement, as by tearing or otherwise.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the invention as applied to an ordinary can of varnish, a varnish-brush being illus trated. The back of the vessel is presented to view, and the parts are in the position they I occupy when the brush is about to be attached to the vessel. Fig. 2 illustrates my invention the same as shown in Fig. 1, the brush, however, being attached to the vessel by the proper bending of the attaching-strip of metal.

A represents an ordinary tin can, such as used for containing varnish, furniture-polish, or like material. B is the neck and stopper thereof.

O is a short strip of tin, or equivalent material, which is soldered at its central portion to'the back of the can. It may be near the top, as shown in the drawings, or at any other suitable place upon the can, and it may be upon any other side rather than the back, if preferred.

D is the varnish-brush. A sponge or any other utensil may be substituted therefor. The brush is laid against the piece of tin with the contracted portion of the handle adjacent to the central part of the strip, whereupon the ends E and E are bent upwardly over the handle and are pressed down firmly upon it, whereby the brush is permanently attached to the can, until the bent-over ends of the strip are again straightened out.

It will be observed that no displacement of the metal relative to the can can take place, because the two are permanently connected together; also, that the metal will not, for this purpose, be injuriously acted upon by atmospheric or other influences; also, that the device is inexpensive, and when the goods are placed upon the shelves in the dealers stores the handle of the brush or portion of the sponge or similar article will appear above the top of the can, thus at a glance disclosing the completeness of the outfit.

I claim- 1. A vessel or can havinga ductile strip of sheet-tin attached at its central part thereto,

the ends of the strip being adapted to be folded over ,a utensil, and to retain their folded-over position, whereby the utensil is detachably attached to thevessel, for the purposes set forth.

2. A tin can having a strip of ductile sheettin soldered at its middle portion to the vertical side of the can, the ends of the strip being adapted to fold over and hold a utensil 10 to the can by reason of the ends of the strip retaining their folded-over position, for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 30th day of January, A. D. 1896.

7 JOHN L. HUMPHREY. Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, E. SIMPSON. 

